#Overdraft Line Credit

[heritagefinancialcreditunion]

Avoid the stress of overdraft fees with Heritage Financial Credit Union's Overdraft Line of Credit. Learn how this flexible financial tool can protect your account from unexpected shortfalls and provide peace of mind. Ideal for managing your finances smarter. Explore your options today!

[fincrif]

Personal Loan vs. Overdraft: Which Is Better?

Introduction

When it comes to managing unexpected financial needs, individuals often look for credit options like a personal loan or an overdraft facility. Both options provide access to funds but work differently in terms of borrowing limits, interest rates, repayment flexibility, and overall cost. Choosing between a personal loan and an overdraft depends on various factors such as loan tenure, purpose, and financial stability.

This article compares personal loans and overdrafts, helping you determine which is the better option for your financial needs.

What Is a Personal Loan?

A personal loan is an unsecured loan offered by banks and NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) to individuals for various purposes, such as medical emergencies, home renovation, wedding expenses, or debt consolidation. The borrower repays the loan in fixed monthly EMIs (Equated Monthly Installments) over a predetermined tenure.

Key Features of a Personal Loan

Fixed Loan Amount: Lenders approve a lump sum amount based on eligibility.

Fixed Interest Rate: The interest rate remains unchanged for the tenure (unless it’s a floating rate loan).

Structured Repayment: Borrowers must repay the loan in equal EMIs.

Loan Tenure: Typically ranges from 1 to 5 years.

Eligibility Criteria: Based on income, employment status, and credit score.

Advantages of a Personal Loan

✅ No Collateral Required – Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning you don’t have to pledge assets. ✅ Lump Sum Disbursement – You receive the entire loan amount upfront. ✅ Predictable Repayments – Fixed EMIs make budgeting easier. ✅ Higher Loan Amounts – Personal loans typically offer higher limits than overdrafts. ✅ Improves Credit Score – Timely repayment positively impacts credit history.

Disadvantages of a Personal Loan

❌ Prepayment Penalties – Some lenders charge fees for early repayment. ❌ Longer Approval Process – Requires documentation and credit checks. ❌ Fixed Monthly EMIs – You must pay the same amount every month, even if you have excess funds.

What Is an Overdraft?

An overdraft is a credit facility linked to a savings or current account, allowing you to withdraw more than the available balance, up to a predefined limit. Interest is charged only on the utilized amount for the duration it remains outstanding.

Key Features of an Overdraft

Flexible Borrowing: You can withdraw funds as needed, up to your approved limit.

Interest on Usage: Interest is charged only on the amount you use, not the entire limit.

No Fixed EMI: You can repay any amount at any time, as long as you stay within the overdraft limit.

Linked to an Account: Usually attached to a bank account or a pre-approved credit line.

Advantages of an Overdraft

✅ Pay Interest Only on Utilized Amount – Unlike a personal loan, where interest is charged on the full amount. ✅ Flexible Repayment – No fixed EMIs; you can repay whenever you want. ✅ Instant Access to Funds – No lengthy approval process; funds are readily available. ✅ No Prepayment Penalty – You can clear the outstanding balance anytime without extra charges. ✅ Great for Short-Term Needs – Suitable for temporary cash flow shortages.

Disadvantages of an Overdraft

❌ Lower Credit Limit – The approved overdraft amount is often lower than a personal loan. ❌ Higher Interest Rates – Interest on overdrafts is generally higher compared to personal loans. ❌ Risk of Overuse – Easy access to funds may lead to unnecessary borrowing and debt accumulation. ❌ Requires a Bank Relationship – Overdraft facilities are often offered only to existing account holders.

Personal Loan vs. Overdraft: A Detailed Comparison

FeaturePersonal LoanOverdraftLoan TypeFixed amount, repaid in EMIsCredit limit linked to an accountInterest RateLower, fixed or floatingHigher, varies based on usageRepaymentFixed monthly EMIsFlexible repayment scheduleApproval TimeCan take a few daysInstant for pre-approved accountsLoan Tenure1 to 5 yearsOngoing, no fixed tenurePrepayment ChargesMay applyNo chargesBest ForLong-term expenses (medical, education, home renovation)Short-term cash flow needs

Which Option Is Better for You?

When to Choose a Personal Loan

Opt for a personal loan if:

You need a large lump sum amount for planned expenses like home renovation or education.

You prefer structured repayment with fixed EMIs.

You want a lower interest rate compared to an overdraft.

You are eligible for a longer loan tenure to manage EMIs comfortably.

When to Choose an Overdraft

Choose an overdraft facility if:

You require occasional short-term funds rather than a lump sum.

You want to pay interest only on the used amount.

You need instant access to funds for emergency expenses.

You prefer a flexible repayment schedule without fixed EMIs.

Conclusion: Which Is the Better Option?

Both a personal loan and an overdraft have their own advantages, and the choice depends on your financial needs. If you require a large, one-time loan with predictable repayment, a personal loan is the better option. However, if you need a flexible credit line for short-term financial gaps, an overdraft is a more convenient alternative.

Before choosing, assess your financial situation, repayment capacity, and loan terms carefully to make an informed decision. Always compare lender offers to find the best interest rates and repayment terms that suit your financial goals.

[brocfinance]

Guide to Understanding Small Business Loans

Australia's thriving entrepreneurial landscape demands accessible financing solutions to fuel business growth and innovation. Small business loans play a pivotal role in empowering local ventures, offering capital infusion to fund expansions, equipment purchases, and business optimisation. The most common reason for SMEs in Australia to look for small business loans is to buy equipment. Cash flow management, business expansions, inventory purchases, and invoice payments are other critical reasons why they need the funds. Loans for small businesses can help entrepreneurs manage exigencies and seize opportunities in the market. Let’s discuss everything you need to know about small business loans in Australia!

Purpose of additional finance SMEs, % Aug 2021 & 2022

WHAT ARE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS?

A small business loan is a financing option that allows business owners to get a lump sum amount from lenders to manage various business expenses. They are required to repay the loan at a fixed interest rate over a specified period. There are many types of small business loan products that suit a variety of enterprises. From start-up business loans to bad credit small business loans, there are numerous options to explore. Let’s break down the typical terms of small business finance products available in the market:

●       Loan Amount: Small businesses can get loans in the range of $5000 to $1 million, depending on a multitude of factors. The average loan amount for small businesses in Australia is on the rise, growing by 15% between 2021 and 2022. Fuelled by post-pandemic recovery, many lenders are now lending more money to small businesses than ever before.

●       Loan Term: In most cases, lenders provide small business loans for three months to three years.

●       Interest Rate: Small business loan rates Lenders determine the interest rate based on factors like the firm’s financial strength, credit history, availability of collateral, industry prospects and more. A small business loan calculator can help you estimate your potential repayments based on the indicative interest rates typically charged by lenders.

●       Repayment Frequency: Small businesses can make weekly, fortnightly, or monthly repayments according to their loan agreement with the lender. This flexibility makes it convenient for small-scale businesses to pay back these loans. 

What Can You Do with a Small Business Loan?

A firm can use its small business loan to take care of various business expenses. Lenders usually do not place restrictions on how you can utilise the loan amount, provided it goes towards a legitimate business expenditure. Here are some of the ways of using a small business loan to maximise your firm's potential for success.

(Source: https://www.nbcbanking.com/business-banking/business-lending-guide/how-business-loans-work/) 

●       Working Capital Needs: Small loans for businesses can help these firms navigate their day-to-day expenses. Seasonal ventures with cash flow fluctuations often rely on small business loans to manage expenditures.

●       Equipment Purchase: Many businesses rely on key pieces of equipment to provide their services and drive value for customers. They may need to purchase new equipment or machinery to scale their operations or replace an old asset. In such situations, they can borrow money from lenders to fund this essential business expense.

●       Real Estate Investments: If you run a small business, you may want to purchase or lease new premises for your firm. You may want to expand and renovate your current premises or open new branches to grow your business. A small business loan can come in handy for all these purposes and help you take your venture to new heights.

●       Buying Inventory: Lack of inventory can lead to the loss of sales and competitive advantage in the market. Hence, it is essential to maintain adequate inventory stocks to meet your demand forecasts. Many firms take out small business loans during festive seasons or other high-demand periods to buy more inventory to cater to the demand.

●       Start-up Costs: Often, an entrepreneur may have an excellent business idea, but they may lack the funds to execute their plans. In such situations, small business loans can come to their rescue. They can borrow money to initiate their operations and lay the foundations for growth. 

Small Business Loans: Options to Explore

If you want to explore loans for your small business, there are numerous options to explore. Let’s discuss the various types of small business loans available to firms:

●       Unsecured Small Business Loans: Small businesses may lack the assets or time required to take out secured loans. In such situations, they can browse unsecured business loans to meet their needs. Lenders provide unsecured loans without any security or collateral. Since the risk for the lender is high, they tend to charge a slightly higher rate of interest to compensate for the same. Unsecured loans are a hassle-free source of funding because it takes very little time to process and approve these loans. A firm needs to submit only their bank statements for loans up to $250K. They can get a quick business loan within 24 hours for a term of 3-36 months if they opt for unsecured credit.

●       Secured Small Business Loans: A secured business loan is a lump sum amount lent against some security or collateral. The borrower must offer a real estate property to the lender to secure this type of loan. Secured small business loans are excellent for start-ups that have no business activity or financial strength to show. They can pledge a residential or commercial property as collateral to cover the lender’s risk and get favourable terms on the loan. They can get small business start-up loans up to 80% of the value of their pledged asset. These loans are available for 3-18 months, allowing sufficient time for new firms to set up their operations.

●       Small Business Line of Credit: A business overdraft is a flexible source of finance for small business owners. In this case, the lender approves a credit limit, and the firm can withdraw money according to their unique business requirements. They have to pay interest on the amount they withdraw and not the entire credit limit. Business lines of credit in Australia help firms navigate their working capital needs by providing an interest-free buffer.

●       Bad Credit Loans: Lenders evaluate the credit score of applicants in detail before approving their loans. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to get a small business loan because of the applicant’s poor personal or business credit history. Bad credit small business loans are available to Australian firms with some stringent terms and conditions. These loans often carry higher rates of interest and have more rigorous lending criteria. Typically, bad credit business loans are available for a short-term period between three to twelve months.

●       Short-term Loans: Short-term business loans are perfect for bridging capital needs. Firms can get short-term credit to meet urgent working capital requirements and tackle cash flow fluctuations. These loans require minimal documentation and are usually quick to be processed.

●       Small Business Equipment Finance: 27% of SMEs borrow money to buy new equipment to streamline their operations. Hence, lenders frequently offer favourable terms to secure loans for this purpose. Firms can secure equipment loans against the value of the newly acquired asset and pay lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans. These loans can usually be taken for up to seven years, ensuring flexibility and convenience for the borrowers. 

Eligibility Criteria to Get Small Business Loans in Australia

Borrowers have to meet the required criteria to be eligible for small business loans. They are as follows:

●       Registration: The borrowing firm must have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN) to apply for business financing.

●       Trading History: Many lenders prefer to advance small loans for business purposes to firms that have been in operation for six months or more. However, start-up businesses can also secure loans by pledging collateral to the lenders.

●       Monthly Turnover: Small businesses need a monthly turnover of $5K or more to be eligible for most business loan products. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Taking a Small Business Loan

Small business loans can be a game-changer for business owners who want to grow their ventures or navigate challenging times. However, it is crucial to weigh the pros and cons of these loans before deciding to borrow. Here are the advantages you can expect with small business loans:

●       Access to Capital: Small business loans provide a vital infusion of capital, enabling entrepreneurs to fund startup costs, expand operations, invest in equipment, or seize growth opportunities.

●       Smooth Cash Flow: Small business loans can help address cash flow gaps, ensuring the continuity of operations and providing stability during lean periods or unexpected expenses.

●       Flexibility in Use: Business loans offer flexibility in how the funds are utilised. Entrepreneurs have the freedom to allocate them as needed to drive their business forward.

●       Building Credit: Responsible borrowing and timely repayments can help establish and improve your business credit profile. Increasing your credit score can potentially open doors to more favourable terms in the future.

●       Quick and Hassle-Free Approvals: In most cases, lenders process small business loans very quickly. You can get unsecured loans in just 24-72 hours, while secured loans take about 3-7 days for unconditional approval and settlement. The experience of applying for small business loans is quite hassle-free, as businesses have to submit just a few documents to facilitate the process. Most small business loans are low-doc, requiring the applicants to submit their last six months’ bank statements and identification proofs to secure approval.  

●       Variety of Options: Small businesses can explore various loan products to find the options that suit them the best. They can compare small business loan rates and the terms offered by lenders to fit their unique business model. There are numerous small business loans available in the market, allowing business owners to compare the loans and opt for flexible sources of funding. 

Now that you know the advantages of taking a small business loan, let’s discuss the potential disadvantages to help you make an informed decision:

●��      Small Amounts: Lenders often consider small businesses riskier than established firms because of their limitations in scale. As a result, they tend to approve lower amounts for small business loans to minimise their risks.

●       Higher Rates of Interest: Small-scale businesses may have to pay a higher interest rate than larger firms with a demonstrated history of success. Lenders tend to charge higher interest rates to cover their risks in case the borrowers go bankrupt and fail to repay their loans. The higher interest rate can lead to high repayments, affecting the firm’s cash flow situation.

●       No Guarantee of Business Growth: While small business loans are valuable tools for growing local ventures, they do not guarantee long-term business expansions. Success and growth depend on execution and not just the infusion of funds.  A small business loan may not solve long-term business challenges. Hence, it is crucial to carefully weigh your requirements and business plans before taking out a loan.

You should carefully understand these advantages and disadvantages before applying for a loan. A detailed analysis will help you make an informed decision and avoid pitfalls in the future. 

How to Apply for a Small Business Loan?

First-time borrowers may be daunted by the idea of applying for a small business loan. SMEs in Australia often struggle to figure out how to get a bank loan for small businesses, with many of them experiencing difficulties in finding a willing lender or an affordable loan. In such cases, firms can work with experienced finance brokers to connect with alternative lenders who offer flexible loan terms for small-scale ventures.

(Source: https://www.smefinanceforum.org/post/survey-finds-funding-gap-is-stifling-small-business-growth-in-australia)

If you are a small business owner looking for an affordable loan, following a structured approach can help you navigate the application process. Here are the steps you can take to simplify your loan application journey: 

#1 Determine Your Funding Needs

Before applying for a small business loan, evaluate your funding requirements. Clearly define how much capital you need, what it will be used for, and the repayment terms you can comfortably manage. You can use a small business loan calculator to ascertain the potential repayments and assess if the amount fits your business budget. 

#2 Research Loan Options and Eligibility Criteria

Thoroughly research different loan options and lenders to find the most suitable fit for your business. Understand the eligibility criteria for getting a small business loan to suit your requirements. At this stage, you can contact a financial broker to discuss your needs and explore the loan products that may be right for you. Compare the business loans and decide where you want to apply. 

#3 Prepare Your Documents

Applicants must submit the required documents to facilitate the loan approval process. If you want a loan up to $250K, a low-doc application will suffice. You need the following documents for low-doc loan approval:

●       A valid identification document.

●       Bank statements from the past six months.

The lenders may require some more documents based on the nature of the loan you want. For example, if there  is no ATO payments cited in the bank statement, the lender may ask for ATO statement. Your finance broker can guide you to prepare the necessary documents for a hassle-free application process.

If you want to apply for an unsecured loan over $250K, you have to submit the following documents in addition to the bank statements and identification proofs:

●       Financial statements.

●       ATO statements.

You can prepare your documents in advance before filling up your loan application. 

#4 Submit the Application

Once you have gathered the required documents, submit your loan application. Ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete. Double-check the application for any mistakes or omissions that could potentially delay the approval process. You can submit your application online with all the required details. Your financial broker can go through your application and forward it to the most suitable lender to fast-track the process. 

#5 Review and Accept the Loan Offer

After submitting your application, the lender will evaluate your eligibility and provide their loan offer. Carefully review the terms, including interest rates, repayment duration, and associated fees. Once you are satisfied, you can accept it by following the lender's instructions. If you have any queries, you can consult your financial broker for clarification. Once all requirements are met, the lender will finalise the loan and transfer the funds to your designated account. In some cases, you can receive the approval and the loan amount within just twenty-four hours. 

How do Lenders Evaluate Applications for Small Business Loans?

Lenders evaluate the following factors to determine the status of a loan application:

●       Industry and Market Factors: Lenders consider the industry in which the business operates, examining its growth potential, market conditions, and competitive landscape. They evaluate the risk associated with your industry's stability and your firm's position within the industry.

●       Financial Position: Lenders assess the firm's financial strength to determine whether they can service the debt. Typically, a high monthly turnover is a positive indicator for lenders, leading them to approve higher amounts.

●       Security: Lenders may require collateral to secure the loan. They assess the value and marketability of the offered collateral, such as real estate, inventory, or equipment, to mitigate the risk in case of default. If you take an unsecured small business loan, the lenders often prioritise applications where the firm or its directors are asset-backed.

●       Credit Score: Lenders carefully assess your creditworthiness by reviewing your personal and business credit history. They consider factors such as your credit score, payment history, outstanding debts, and any past bankruptcies or defaults. The credit score is especially important for a new business, as it can minimise the lender’s risk and make them more likely to issue an approval.

●       Trading History: Businesses operating for more than one year often get precedence when lenders evaluate loan applications. However, newer firms can also get start-up business loans from several alternative lenders.

Lenders analyse these factors to determine the loan amount, interest rate, and other terms they are willing to approve. Evaluating these aspects can give you more clarity about your loan prospects. 

Tips to Simplify Your Small Business Loan Application Process

Applying for a business loan can be a complex process, but with the right approach, you can simplify it and increase your chances of success. By taking steps to streamline your loan application, you can save time, reduce stress, and present an excellent application to lenders. Here are some tips to simplify your application:

●       Strengthen Your Credit Profile: You should prioritise improving your credit profile by paying bills on time, reducing outstanding debts, and correcting any errors on your credit report. A strong credit profile enhances your credibility and increases your chances of loan approval.

●       Consult a Finance Broker: Once you identify your funding requirements, you can start exploring suitable options. Many SMEs in Australia struggle to find bank loans to fund their business operations. If you face this issue or do not know how to get a bank loan for your small business, it is better to partner with a finance broker. These brokers can connect you to a network of alternative lenders who provide tailored financing solutions for your firm. Moreover, their expertise can help you navigate the complexities and ensure your application is thorough and compelling. They can guide you about various aspects of the process and provide you with relevant information. From average loan amounts for small businesses to typical interest rates, they have in-depth knowledge about all facets of small business loans to help you.

●       Explore Government Schemes: You can check government small business loans to find options that may fit your needs. The Australian government sometimes initiates loan assistance programmes to fuel the growth of SMEs. A knowledgeable finance broker can provide you with information about government small business loan schemes, enabling you to make the best decision for your firm.

●       Prepare a Detailed Business Plan: Although lenders do not mandate the submission of a business plan, it is better to be prepared to demonstrate your growth trajectory. Craft a detailed and professional business plan that outlines your business objectives, strategies, financial projections, and market analysis. A well-prepared plan demonstrates your preparedness and increases the lender’s confidence. 

If you want guidance and support to apply for various small business loans, you should contact Broc Finance today! Its team of financial brokers can help you apply for working capital loans and other credit options to help you achieve your business goals.

Source: https://www.brocfinance.com.au/blog/guide-to-understanding-small-business-loans/

[what-even-is-thiss]

Democrat posting is utterly shameful, like, yeah, go on, Biden is doing so much good, we just don't hear about it because????

We don’t hear about it because the media is still focused on reporting on Drump’s scandals after all these years. They keep giving him more attention!

I still see people saying stuff like “why didn’t Biden forgive student debt?” when he very much tried to and was shut down by the Supreme Court and he still pushed through as much debt forgiveness as he could.

Biden also got the transportation bill passed. He got new climate legislation passed that other countries are now copying. He’s overseen the largest number of new jobs being created of any one presidential term in US history. He got federal legal protections for married gay couples passed. He’s extended overtime pay protections to more people. He’s the first president to have walked a picket line with striking workers. He’s worked to protect people’s pensions. He signed into law protections for pregnant people in the workplace. He’s implemented a minimum corporate tax so multi billion dollar companies can’t get away with paying zero dollars in taxes. He’s given Medicare the right to negotiate prescription prices. He’s put a cap on insulin prices. He’s introduced tax credits for certain energy saving devices like heat pumps. He’s reduced overdraft and late fees. He’s brought semiconductor manufacturing back to the US. He increased federal support for veterans that have been exposed to toxic substances. They worked to get cancer screenings back to pre-pandemic levels. He expanded access to naloxone and reduced deaths due to overdose on opioids by 10%. He was one of the world leaders involved in getting Sweden and Finland to join NATO. He strengthened a lot of our alliances. He signed significant gun control legislation into law for the first time in 30 years.

I could go on and on and on about the positive things that Biden has done. I could also go on about the bad things. However, people seem to only focus on the bad things to the point where they’ve actually convinced themselves that somehow Drump would be the same or better. It’s lunacy, the amount that the media ignores the positive news.

[portraitoftheoddity]

Ok, tumblr -- economic literacy lesson of the day is the difference between Net Worth and Liquidity.

Net Worth, for a person or company, is the total value of one's assets minus the total value of one's liabilities. This means: how much all of your shit is worth, after you subtract any debts you have.

Liquidity by contrast is how much of your assets you have readily available as spending money, or can quickly and easily convert to spending money (selling stocks or bonds, for instance).

For example: meet Bob. Bob owns a house worth $300k. His car is worth $5k. He has about $15k in the bank and $50k in a retirement fund that he can't pull from until he's 60. Bob has a mortgage on the house and still owes $100k, and has about $5k in other debts he's paying off, such as credit cards.

Bob's total assets (house, car, retirement fund, bank account) are worth $370k, with debts of $105k, leaving him with a Net Worth of $265k.

Now you may be saying "$265,000 is a lot of money! Bob is pretty wealthy!"

But Bob's assets are largely not liquid. He can't quickly and easily convert them into spending cash -- for physical objects, like a house or a car, you need to line up a buyer and negotiate a deal and it takes time to liquidate those assets (and leaves Bob with nowhere to live and nothing to drive). The retirement fund is not accessible money because of the limits on withdrawals based on age. In fact, the only money Bob has that's liquid for him to spend on bills, living expenses, and any emergency that might come up is the $15,000 in the bank.

Now imagine Bob gets injured and gets rushed to the hospital in an out-of-network ambulance because Bob has the misfortune to live in the US, and after the bills, Bob's $15k in the bank is completely wiped out. Bob still has a Net Worth of $250k, but he is now completely broke and getting hit with overdraft fees and still in debt.

Now, I wanna be clear -- this isn't a defense of the ultra-wealthy; billionaires whose net worth is largely accounted for by the businesses and assets they own still have more cash in their overseas bank accounts than you and I will probably ever see in our lifetimes, and have ability to borrow absurd amounts of money against their stock as collateral for easy liquidity without paying taxes, which is a whole other mess. Those guys operate by different rules than the rest of us (look up the Billionaire Borrowing Loophole, or 'Buy, Borrow, Die') so if you see people using this argument for why Jeff Bezos isn't actually all that rich because he can't just liquidate Amazon-- yeah, doesn't quite work that way when we're on that level. But that's a whole 'nother bag of cats.

Anyway; I hope this helps clarify what people mean when they talk about Net Worth versus someone's actual accessible money, and hopefully helps you feel more informed!

[sweetfirebird]

Americans, Republicans just voted to allow banks to charge you more for overdrafts

Overturning legislation from last year that reduced overdraft fees to $5, btw. Because these people love their donors, not you. The new fee hike is, I believe, up to $35 per incident.

Anyway...

What are overdraft fees? In non-legal terms, overdraft fees are a way for banks to charge the poor... and often the young... money for not having money.

A better explanation is that banks used to just decline transactions if you had no money in your account. Then they started offering protection against this, if you opted in to overdraft coverage. Basically, the bank will allow the transaction to go through, but if you opt into that coverage, they can sometimes charge you a fee.

How to Avoid Overdraft Fees (because I want you all to save money and not get screwed over)

Some banks do not charge overdraft fees. jsyk. Some will simply decline the transaction. Some will grant you a grace period of 24 hours to get money back into your account. Some credit unions also do not charge overdraft fees. Banks are a service! I mean, they are sadly necessary in current America but they are a service. You can change banks if you aren't getting what you need.

Go to your bank's website or app and set up overdraft alerts. Most (but not all) banks offer this.

But sometimes these alerts are only if you are overdrawn over a certain amount, which does not help you if you will still get charged an overdraft fee regardless of the amount.

Set up balance alerts through your bank. Some banks will send you low-balance alerts before you are overdrawn.

Check your account more often. I know that is nervewracking sometimes (or just fucking depressing) but, if you can't afford the $35, do it anyway. Put a little calendar reminder/alert on your phone to check your account like twice a month or something.

You can sometimes get overdraft protection through your bank, which means you link your checking account to another account (savings, usually) and the bank will cover the funds by taking money from that account. --Note-- some banks might charge you a transfer fee for this. Banks, man. Not to be trusted.

Opt out of the coverage/protection and accept that insufficient funds will mean your transactions being declined. Embarrassing, but cheaper.

Use a banking/budgeting app. I personally do not trust many of these apps, especially in America, especially in this time of Republicans (and Musk and Doge) eroding consumer protections. But a lot of people do find them helpful to help them budget or to get reminders about low funds in their accounts. --Note-- some people consider some of these apps to be more "money tracking" than "budgeting" so really it depends on what you are going for, if you want to try one. Research before choosing one for sure. Reddit has some forums about them.

The American Banking Association recommends getting direct deposit for your paychecks if you can. (My old boss never allowed DD and it was annoying, especially come rent time.) They also suggest, if you need to, asking your bank for a small line of credit to cover insufficient funds to avoid the fee--but also to pay that credit back immediately once you can.

Also if you can... try to keep a cushion in your checking account. A minimum amount that is always there to prevent this. But you know, times are hard.

You can mock it--but--for some people, using an old-fashioned checkbook to record transactions, transfers, and deposits is actually the best way for them. It might be for you as well. Who knows.

I never got this sort of advice when I was younger and first got a debit card and a checking account (poor parents means no real financial literacy), so this is yet another issue I am passionate about. Sorry not sorry. The amount of fees I got charged... the credit card debt... I don't want that for any of you.

And, this isn't overdraft advice, but I also set up reminders for the bills I pay that are not autopay (for whatever reason), so that I do not make late payments and don't get dinged on my dumb credit score. You can set up these reminders through any calendar app.

As things change, some of this advice might no longer be applicable or necessary but as with all advice, it's take it or leave it, or take just a little bit of it. Whatever works for you.

[girlactionfigure]

🔘 Mon morning - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

⭕ HEZBOLLAH ROCKETS and SUICIDE DRONES x4 rounds since our last report.

❗️including ROCKETS at Acre (northern city - north of Haifa).

❗️including ROCKETS at Kiryat Biyalik (just north of Haifa - the Krayot).

▪️RESCUED HOSTAGES CONDITION.. nutritional deficiency, emotional and psychological struggles, Stockholm syndrome, harsh treatment - evaluation of medical teams.

▪️ANTI-AIRCRAFT FROM HEZBOLLAH.. yesterday Hezbollah fired Iranian made and provided anti-aircraft missiles (multiple) at an Israel F-15.  The IDF responded by eliminating the anti-air launcher and squad.

▪️FRANCE WARNS LEBANON.. France has informed the government in Lebanon that Israel is preparing to launch a large-scale military operation against Hezbollah, which includes aerial bombing of vital targets throughout Lebanon, and ground entry into the area south of the Litani River.

▪️HAMAS WATCHES ISRAELI POLITICS AND SMILES.. The head of the political department of Hamas abroad, Sami Abu Zahari:  The military and political resignations are endless and prove the collapse of the Israeli political system.

▪️INFILTRATION - SDE EPHRAIM.. two armed terrorists wearing IDF vests infiltrated the Sde Ephraim farm, one lit the mobile home on fire, in which a couple who got married less than a week ago lives. Fortunately the couple was a Sheva Brachot (7 blessings meals with community).  IDF searching.

🔸DEAL NEWS - US SEC STATE BLINKED ARRIVES IN ISRAEL.. will meet with Netanyahu to try to advance the negotiations on the exchange deal before visiting Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

▪️BODIES.. news rumors state 34 bodies were brought from Gaza for identification, checking if they are hostage bodies.  This has happened many times previously with only a few found.

▪️CONSCRIPTION LAW.. The vote on the Law of Continuity for the Recruitment Law (the transfer of the law from the previous Knesset to this Knesset) is expected to take place tonight. For now, the majority seems to be assured.

▪️PROTESTORS ARRESTED - JERUSALEM.. a small group of “Change Direction” protestors attempted to block the entrance to government buildings.  Police quickly arrested them.

▪️ECONOMY - THE MINUS.. (in Israel people have a “line of credit” on their bank accounts, allowing overdraft but at high interest)  Bank Discount exempted interest on the first NIS 2,000 of “minus” starting 2022, to draw new customers. It didn’t draw customers, Discount canceled the exemption - and now is increasing the rates on ‘minus’ - 12.5% for the first NIS 800.  Bank Leumi similarly increased their ‘minus’ interest rates. (Calcalist)

⭕ ANTI-TANK missiles from Hezbollah at Manor.

⭕ HOUTHIS hit a Swiss container ship in the Red Sea.

[wyvernplushies]

Don't rlly think this is necessary but just wanna say this as we do have some younger ppl & minors following us so just some deinfluencing housekeeping

We buy plushies and toys a lot, and we buy expensive plushies and toys regularly

That might seem cool and fun but we are generally not very responsible financially and we have poor financial literacy. If you are the same don't forget these are skills you can develop and improve!

We pay all our bills and we don't struggle dont get us wrong, but it's so easy esp when you're younger to go ohh that person on the internet bought that thing so let me just order it too- doesn't matter if I have to put it on a credit card/go into my overdraft/pay it in 3 via a service ect

Try to build up good habits. Save! Make sure you're budgeting! Prioritise important things!!

9 times out of 10 that plush or toy will still be available next month when you have more money or when you're able to save up for it (or you're in a position to pay for it with a credit card + not max it out) OR if it's a mass market item, you can usually find it cheaper second hand a few months down the line!!

Take care!!!

[beardedmrbean]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday announced the final version of a rule limiting banks’ ability to charge overdraft fees. It says the rule will save American consumers $5 billion annually.

The regulator said that banks could opt to charge $5 for overdrafts — a steep drop from the average fee of around $35 per transaction — or limit the fee to an amount that covers the lenders’ costs, or charge any fee while disclosing the interest rate of the loan.

“For far too long, the largest banks have exploited a legal loophole that has drained billions of dollars from Americans’ deposit accounts,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement. “The CFPB is cracking down on these excessive junk fees and requiring big banks to come clean about the interest rate they’re charging on overdraft loans.”

While overdraft fees have been a lucrative line item for the industry, generating $280 billion in revenue since 2000 according to the CFPB, banks’ revenue from the service has been on the decline. That’s because lenders including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have either reduced the fees or limited the types of transactions that trigger them, while some banks dropped the fee altogether.

The CFPB rule applies to banks and credit unions with at least $10 billion in assets.

The effort, part of a flurry of activity from the CFPB in the waning days of the Biden administration, faces stiff opposition from U.S. banking groups that have successfully stymied other efforts from the regulator. For instance, a rule capping credit card late fees at $8 per incident that was set to take effect in May has been held up in federal court.

The CFPB said that its overdraft rule will take effect Oct. 1, 2025, though its ultimate fate is unclear.

Even before the election victory of Donald Trump last month, the fate of the overdraft rule would’ve been murky, thanks to industry pushback. But Trump is expected to install a new CFPB head next month that is unlikely to support Biden-era efforts to rein in banking activity.

Bank lobbying groups have argued that the overdraft rule, first proposed in January as part of Biden’s war on junk fees, would reduce access to overdraft services and could send customers to worse alternatives like payday loans.

The Consumer Bankers Association said Thursday it was “exploring all options” to push back against the rule.

[emi1y]

💸💸💸

feeling like an adult bc i finally understand what im doing with money and what works well for me. paying all my bills/ insurance/loans with a credit card set to auto pay so i don't miss payments but don't overdraft my bank accidentally (from experience). paying my credit card balance in its entirety every paycheck instead of waiting until its due each month so i can keep a better eye on it and so i don't reach the end of a month with a bill larger than i can afford. afterwards putting as much as i feasibly can into a savings at a completely different bank so that when i check my main account i don't see how much i have saved and don't think of it as usable money. keeping my checking acct as low as i can to minimize how much i spend because i think i have no money. i've been researching stocks and funds and all that grown up stuff for a while and i think by this summer i'll be able to start investing in umm a fund or whatever you want to call it to save for a down payment on a house five years down the line. when i move in april and have cheaper rent i'm going to start putting the difference into a roth ira bc my company doesn't match retirement plans. then in june it will be my 1 year mark at my company and i'm going to ask about a raise so i've been documenting my work and the new skills i'm being trained on so i have a solid stack of evidence with me. anyway the wildest part of all of this really is just the fact that for the first time ever i'm able to visualize a life 10 years from now. it's not just a gray nebulous void. i have tangible goals and i can see the path it's going to take to get there and I'm excited to be working towards them even though it means not seeing the rewards for years and years and years.

[batmansymbol]

I hope this isn't a weird or too random question (and if it is, feel free to ignore ofc!) but I was wondering if you had any advice for someone thinking of writing full-time? The obvious question is, of course, can one make a living from it even if they're not like Stephen King or GRR Martin or something? Do you have any tips from your experience that you would have found helpful when first starting out? <3

Hi, sweet anon! Not weird at all. I'm happy to chime in with some (long) thoughts.

Firstly, yes! Authors can make a full-time living from writing even if they're not GRRM &c. I know a number of full-timers, and some of them aren't even NYT bestsellers.

As a caveat, I know very little about the indie/self-publishing space, so the following is based on my experience in traditional publishing.

I spent around 2-3 years writing books full-time. I no longer do that, and don't plan to return to it unless I have a big commercial breakout. It was just a never-ending parade of financial stress. It's hard even to give "tips" because so much is out of your control -- but if you're considering trying to write full time, you should definitely know what you're signing up for.

Here's an average situation for a non-bestseller trying to full-time it:

Let's say you've published two books, and your third is on the way (awesome!). For your first two novels, you got advances of $40,000, but maybe they've only sold 15k copies apiece -- not enough to "earn out" your advance and start making new money. So, you're not making a cent off your older books. Probably won't for years.

Let's say your book 3 is supposed to publish in June 2025, and it sold for more than your last books: $75,000. Pretty good! Advances are usually divided into thirds these days: 1/3 on contract signing, 1/3 on delivery of the fully edited manuscript (D&A), and 1/3 on publication. So that makes a $50,000 salary this year, yes?

Kind of. Right off the bat, your agent gets 15%, so that would make a $42,500 salary. A little tighter, but still seems doable. Also, you need to make estimated tax payments to the IRS. So, let's ballpark your taxes at $7,000, state and federal, which you'll pay in installments throughout the year.

Contract negotiations take a few months as usual, and let's say in April, you get the first payment: your first $21,250. Nice.

Unfortunately, your editor's swamped, and 2 months go by before they send you edits. When you get the letter in June, you're like -- shit, this is a more extensive revision than I thought. You start rehauling the novel, but after your month-long deadline passes, it's still not right. You take another six weeks before you're happy. It's now September.

Suddenly money is very tight. You got $21,250 in April, but since then you've paid $5,250 in estimated taxes, and every month you pay $2,250 in rent, health insurance, and food. You were supposed to have your second payment already, because the contract's estimated D&A date said September. But you still need to do line edits. You now have $2,500 in the bank. You are very aware that this will last a little over a month.

Your editor gets back after a few weeks, having loved your revision, and has sent you line edits. Thank God she didn't want a second round of bigger edits. But it's now October. You rush through the line edits, turn them in after a single jam-packed week. You have $250 in the bank. Your D&A payment is now due.

A week goes by. Where is the payment? You email your agent. She badgers the publisher. They say the payment will be sent through in a pay run next week, so after agency processing, it'll be with you in early November.

You have $75 in the bank. You start putting everything on your credit cards. Then your utility company makes a direct withdrawal from your checking account. You wake up to an overdraft notice and zero dollars in your account. Holy shit, you think, why did I choose this career. November hits. You are late on rent. Maybe you should start drawing from your retirement account, which you put $5,000 into, one time, three years ago?

When your payment arrives, you're not happy so much as ready to cry with relief. You start paying off your cards and sending late, embarrassed Venmos to your friends. You can finally stop declining invites to hang out because you have no money.

And by then it's November, and you're realizing that you really need to be thinking about your next book. If you were working smart, you got a jump on it earlier in the year, when your editor was late with your edit letter. Let's say you wrote an entire first draft back then, between January and June. (Which, to be clear, IS fast for a novel, do not believe the ridiculous standards of writing speed you see online.) If you now take six months to mold that first draft into actual art, then send it to your agent next May, and she wants changes, and you submit in July, and it sells after an average couple months on submission, you won't get your next contract payment until January, 2026.

ARE YOU ANXIOUS YET?

The above scenario is ordinary. An editor having a delay on an edit letter for a month or two, or an author getting stuck and running over deadline for a month -- that stuff is barely worth commenting on.

And there are all sorts of other bumps in the road. Let's say the publisher has turnover in the contracts department. Immediately, that'll be a delay on your signing payment. I've waited 6 months for a contract payment before. I've waited months for a simple email reply from an editor because the company was going through layoffs.

Add more people into the process, and it gets slower. Are you working on IP, let's say a novelization of a TV property? That team might take months to get back to you even on your proposed outline. Working with a freelancer or cowriter? Add weeks or months to every step. In publishing, you spend half your life waiting. You know what doesn't wait? Rent, taxes, and health insurance.

Anon, this is the shoestring, desperate kind of full-time author existence. If you're doing a little better -- still midlist, but better -- you might have earned out one or more of your backlist titles. That means you'll get additional royalties twice a year, usually April and October. That will help.

Or maybe you're a super-fast writer who's always, always juggling multiple contracts and shooting drafts in and out of your door. That's a decent way to make a healthy living as a full-time author, but you'll need to complete multiple books a year, for sure.

This is why I have a survival job half the week that pays my rent. The stress is still there, but it's less frequent and less intense. Honestly, given my sales figures, which are (checks notes) bad, I'm lucky to get to keep doing this after five novels. Because the biggest looming threat is that if you don't break out, editors will start shutting the door immediately because of your lack of established audience.

The only really reliable way to pay your bills is to break out. Then if your editor leaves your publishing house, and you get reassigned, and that pads 3 months onto the editing process, or whatever, it doesn't matter. You'll have actual, substantial royalty payments twice a year. Your advances will always be over six figures. You can live a normal life where you're not staring into the murky distance, wondering when some payment is going to soar out of the night and into your terrible bank account.

Or ... you can just get a day job. And you will get paid biweekly, reliably, on SPECIFIC DATES!!!, forever. When I tell you this shit was life-changing for me. Good God.

Obviously the biggest problem in this whole post is the bit where I wrote "every month you pay $2,250 in rent, insurance, and food," and worried if I was, in fact, lowballing that amount. What a broken world!

Anyway. Best of luck with the writing, anon -- no matter what your experiences in or around the industry, I hope the work itself continues to feed your soul.

RR

[heritagefinancialcreditunion]

Discover the benefits of an Overdraft Line of Credit at Heritage FCU. Avoid costly fees and manage unexpected expenses with ease. Learn how our flexible credit solution can provide peace of mind during financial emergencies. Start understanding and utilizing your Overdraft Line of Credit today.

[classicquid]

Short Term Loans UK Accept the Greatest Cash without a Card Offer

Do you need a short term loans UK, but you're worried since you don't have a debit card? However, you shouldn't worry because there are many different types of credit available in the financial industry. The only thing left to do is select the finest option based on your financial needs. You can choose credits without a plastic card without any hesitation, even if you don't have any short term loans UK direct lender and may need to find financial assistance. These are present, credited, and released after a three-month repayment period.

With the arrangement of these financial things, you can receive a maximum amount of £1,000 with a reimbursement period of two months starting from the date of endorsement. Remember that you can make ends meet by paying for small expenses like electricity, groceries, light bills, unexpected bank overdrafts, children's school or educational costs, home advance payments, unexpected auto repairs, planning a small trip, commitment function costs, and so on.

People who have bad credit due to things like bankruptcy, single-minded assertions, country court judgments, unpaid debts, repossession, late or missed payments, or insolvency are flawed. It is deemed acceptable to take the maximum amount from these credits without going through any raucous process. Due to the lack of a credit check, obtaining funds through short term loans UK is feasible.

However, in order to benefit from loans without a short term loans UK direct lender in an easy method, there are some specific criteria and conditions that you must meet. Therefore, in order to qualify, you must be a permanent resident of the United Kingdom who has been living in a comparable location for the last six months, be older than eighteen, be employed in a steady job with a steady income, and have adequate financial documentation. Even though you already have these prerequisites, you can use these finance products anywhere you need them.

When to Apply for Short Term Loans

Set aside for immediate needs such as unforeseen bills, school fees, medical costs, purchases, or other circumstances requiring fast cash. Peak interest rates are associated with short term loans; occasionally, borrowers take out short term loans UK direct lender to cover an emergency without realizing the high interest rates that will follow.  Financial experts advise against using short term loans lender unless you are very certain that you need the money right away.

Short term cash loans can be applied for in two ways: online and through a disconnected line. The option that makes the most sense for you should be chosen. Considering everything, internet media is becoming more and more well-known, so you should choose this cutting-edge online process. In the long run, there is nothing to do. Complete a basic application form with all relevant information, and then submit the frame on the website for validation. Cash is particularly deposited into your bank account in a constrained amount of time if the advance is approved.

Overall, Short Term Loans UK provide easy ways to get money!

Compared to long-term loans, the terms are less flexible and have a shorter payback period. Making decisions should take careful thought, and when it comes to short term loans UK direct lender, it's simple to make a mistake and get into difficulty.

https://classicquid.co.uk/

[asryakino]

FULL STORY OF THE SAGA OF THE EXPLOSIVE PHONE AND THE ELECTRONICS STORE THAT TRIED TO GET ME TO COMMIT DOMESTIC TERRORISM! -

This is going to take a hot minute to type, so be patient

on June 18th 2024 I was out running errands, and picked up dinner, in doing so I overdrew the credit union account, I THOUGHT I had zeroed it out, but it had actually overdrawn.

I didn't find out until after the bank had closed, and since the 19th was Juneteenth (a federal holiday in the states) the CU was closed.

I THOUGHT I could sign the account up through Zelle and/or cashapp and just transfer money directly into the account, but Zelle continually failed, and cash app let me enroll it, but not transfer the money to the account.

Continually they said the issue was with the DEBIT CARD, not the account and told me to call the bank. I couldn't.

On the 20th, I woke up early enough to call the bank, and began the arduous process of verifying over the phone with my dad just so I could talk to them, and Zelle, and try to figure out why the everloving hell the zelle system said there was something wrong with the card and not letting me even sign up so I could transfer money into the account.

I spent four hours on this. Calling one, calling the other, being on hold. and NO ONE could fix the problem.

I repeated myself so many times I was tired of hearing myself. I got one person who said it was the carrier, so I had to call t-mobile, except it wasn't tmobile it was mint, and tmobile transferred me to aura and not mint, and finally to mint who said 'oh that feature is already unlocked on the account you need to call the banking institution or zelle.

On the final call to zelle, the new tech was refusing to accept the verification. and starts going through her little trapper keeper script of why she was refusing to accept the verification when we had all the answers all the info and had ACTIVELY BEEN VERIFYING FOR FOUR HOURS until this point when she says, off handedly during her script read (she was literally just reading the fucking bullet points, I could HEAR the pauses as she shifted line down) "Your account must have more than a dollar in it to enroll"

I spin, looking at the phone only to realize that the phone my dad is holding has expanded, and popped the back of itself off. And immediately begin internally panicking but externally I'm just being frustrated because THAT was the problem for the past four hours, not me entering info wrong, not the information being incorrect with the bank, not the debit card being mislinked, not a system error THE ACCOUNT WAS ALREADY OVER DRAWN AND IT TOOK FOUR HOURS AND WIGHT TECHS TO TELL ME THIS CONDITION?!

I tell dad to immediately hang up the phone and give it to me, I'm ready to rip my hair out and he thinks I'm going to throw the phone and kind of clings to it. I say, firmer. "Give me that timebomb NOW" and he goes 'what is the pro- what the fuck is that?"

I saiod "That is a spicy pillow and you need to give itt to me -now-. I'm taking it to best buy it should still be under warranty." "Yeah, yeah.." and he handed me the phone "When did that happen?" "When you took the phone out of the case to talk to zelle a second ago. It's blowing out, and It doesn't need to be here." "Yeah you go handle... this..."

I explain the zelle issue why it wouldn't enroll, and go get dressed, grab the spicy ravioli and run out the door with the idea that I'll go to the credit union two cities over, fix the overdraft and then take care of the phone return. While driving it's still expanding so I reprioritize and decide to return the phone first.

In my mind, this is a simple thing. I know the phone is under warranty, it has become a safety issue, their standard practice of "keep this and send it off" is not a viable option so it will HAVE to be a refund/in store exchange.

I know this because I've had to do this once before in the past. I know how their policies work, I know the standard returns but more importantly I know the severity of a bloated li-ion battery and how fucking important it is to get it into a safe disposal unit to be picked up by hazardous waste techs with a fireproof vehicle

I go in, at this point I am forwardly professional, I am not panicked, excitable or anything I have my mask of professionalism on and I'm all fucking business. I go to customer service and say 'I need to make a return but before that, do you have a fire blanket or fire suppressant for this fire hazard" and I gently set the phone on the counter. My only thought is to safely contain this ACTIVELY EXPANDING lithium battery.

She looks down, eye go wide and goes "I don't know let me check" and runs to the back, I hear from the back "We have a bucket of sand" and I retort "That will do, this needs to be contained immediately please"

They come get it, and take the potential fire hazard to be buried in the sand bucket. NOW we may commence the return process. I immediately put on the customer service interaction mask, and give them the information for the account, I joke that my receipt for the purchase had bleached out in the car (It had, I keep it in the sunglasses holder and it had legitimated denatured) and we agree that is why they have everything digital.

The CS says it's a rapid exchange in store for this, I said yay, that's actually really nice, because 'express' is not great. She agrees, and sends me to the mobile department, I say take all the time they need, I'll pick a new phone and confirm it's what my dad wants, and I know the paperwork is going to take a hot minute.

I confirm dad doesn't care as long as it's functional, so I pick out the same type, but updated model of phone (Moto G Stylus 2023 model to replace the 2021 model that is buried in sand in the back)

I talk to mobile, connecting with the associate over customer horror stories and the like while the new phone that he, customer service, geek squad techs, and two other associates and a manager have seen, agreed this is going to be an instore exchange because of the circumstances.

We begin setting up the phone and I realize the sim card is still in the bomb. I roll back over in my wheelchair to ask if it's safe to get the sim card. And they say they have to check the IMEI anyway and I bawk. We've already confirmed it's probably not safe to turn the phone on right now, and they say it's okay, it's on the sim tray. I didn't know that, good information. And I ask, cautiously, if it'd be okay to turn it on BRIEFLY so I can get only the login email on it to know which email my dad used for logging into google so I can get his contacts and account synched

the tech says "I don't recommend it" I asked if it would be okay to do so knowingly against advice to turn it on, get the info, turn it off and rebury the thing?

By now, it's been confirmed the battery is no longer expanding, and it's not actively leaking, smoking or heating up. We all agree it's a compromised cell within the battery but it hasn't been breeched, so it's safe-ISH to handle, briefly, but it shouldn't be agitated too much just in case.

I suggest removing the back fully so there's no pressure points. I'm ignored.

I get the info, turn off the fire bomb and hand it back, where it's taken back to what I assume is the sand bucket.

after a little while, the replacement phone is ready for login, I begin setting up the phone for my dad and logging in his information so it'll be set up and ready to go. They begin the return paperwork for the other phone.

At this point it's been about 45 minutes. It's been a smooth process where everyone was on the same side of 'we do not want to agitate the bomb, and Asrya should be leaving with a functional phone and NOT a fire hazard."

when they try to do the return, the SKU (sales identification number) comes up as dead meaning that the store chain doesn't carry that model any more, and the system won't accept the item as a return for cash, credit, or refund. It just -won't- . Initially, I tell them I've had to do this only twice before (I didn't mention it was spread out over like twelve years that I've been using this specific protection plan with Best Buy) and that they may have to store manager override it.

I've had to utilize this process before with laptops I had to exchange due to manufacture defects... so I actually do know how the policy works, the former general manager of the store had explained it to me YEARS ago.

So I tell them that it happens, and to take their time, I know it's a pain in the ass and I'm sorry I'm taking up so much resources, but it's really okay and as long as the end result is good, I don't mind waiting.

At this point it's 1 in the afternoon.

I've been at the best buy for an hour.

The manager comes up after a while, telling me that it's physically impossible. And I'm going to have to use the 'express return' system, it's the only solution that their system is allowing them to process.

I start getting frustrated, which means I start crying because I am fighting the urge to begin yelling. I've now been here for over an hour, I was in the middle of handling the situation and I NEED the phone in order to process the banking issue this all started with so my dad doesn't get charged overdraft fees.

I explain I can't wait a week for a new phone and what am I supposed to do with the bloated phone?

they explain this process, and get snippy telling me "It's 2-3 days not a week" I tell them it's 2-3 BUSINESS days "well... yeah" "This is THURSDAY, at the earliest it'll process Friday then ship out on Monday, if I'm LUCKY it'll arrive on TUESDAY at the earliest, and maybe not until Thursday of next week! During that whole time my dad's account will have overdraft fees being applied to it for each day! We can't afford that! On top of that you want me to pay a 70$ deposit just to do this! We do not have that money right now"

I was told I could apply for and use the best buy credit card.

I asked for a phone number to call, that there HAD to be an alternative solution, I said I didn't want to take the fire hazard home with me.

By now they had REMOVED THE PHONE FROM THE BUCKET and were walking around with it after me, trying to get me to take the fucking compromised battery.

I tell them to put that thing back in the sand bucket. And they give me 'corporate's number' a 1877 number. I ask if that's the number to call to talk to a supervisor or manager because this is an exception to the policy if ever there was one. If anyone would have the directions for overriding this dead sku problem, it should be the store manager's area or district manager

I am told there is no area or district manager.

I am FLOORED, I realize I've not been around this system for a couple of years but that information just... baffles me. I ask who THEY call when they have a situation come up that can't be handled in store.

They tell me they call the 1877 number.

I am BAFFLED by this, but I call the 1877 number, the call id comes up as 'best buy express kiosk" and I groan because I recognize this as the trunk line call center. I brace for and prepare to handle this for an hour. I am still trying to be as professional as possible.

I have now been here for going on two hours.

I roll out into the entry way, they CHASE ME with the fucking firebomb of a phone and ask if I'm leaving. I look back at them holding this fucking bloated phone and say no I'm just trying to get out of everyone's way so I can call the number and would they PLEASE put that thing back again and leave it in the safe bucket!

I spend the better part of hour three struggling to get through these customer service techs, explaining the situation and begging for them to transfer me to a manager or supervisor. I'm being denied this at every turn until I get to "returns" and am told to ask THEM for a manager by a tech who seemed to understand the situation and why I was calling.

I'm transferred, the tech listens, agrees that I should NOT be handed a firebomb to go home with, and should not be expected to ship a bloated li-ion battery in the mail and that it should be an in store return with store credit. I ask her to please explain this to the manager and go to remove my headset and put her on speaker so the manager can hear it from corporate

the call disconnected

I break

I begin crying, as quietly as I can, and the manager goes 'well' and I explain the call disconnected... I have to get back to that point.. and roll back into the entry way to begin the process again.

I'm crying, I just need this to work.

I've been here for nearly three hours.

The new tech that answers refuses to confirm the account and begins insisting I give my personal number and email to him. Refusing to accept the account information.

He puts me on hold. I call the corporate number again, merge the calls, and he has me on a mute hold. I get another tech that sound like the same guy, who also eventually puts me on hold, and then disconnects the call.

I'm sobbing and breaking down at this point, I'm having a panic attack, and struggling to maintain any type of composure at this point. I tell them I'm going out to my car so I'm not causing a scene in their store and is the manager positive there is no other option. I need to be leaving with a working phone, or at least I do NOT need to be leaving with a fucking FIRE HAZARD that they are expecting me to ship in the mail it is ILLEGAL to ship compromised batteries in the mail.

this fucking manager looks me dead in the face and says I can purchase a new phone to use, and just bring it back after the 'express return' is finished, or I can just do the express return, but there is NO WAY at all physically for her to do the return, in any shape, form or fashion, that I will have to take the fire hazard phone with me and ship it to their facility when the new phone comes in the mail in five days or so

I say I do not feel comfortable holding onto a FIRE HAZARD for a week, much less being without the ability to do the banking and is best buy going to cover the overdraft fees I'll be incurring and what am I supposed to do with a fucking bloated phone that could explode?!

Her solution? "You can go to walmart and buy a bucket and sand and put it in there if you don't feel safe with it, I hear that sand is good for batteries like this"

I snap... I just.. break down and begin crying because at this point I've been here for three hours, I know what she's suggesting is absolutely wrong, she's lied to me about not having an area/district manager, and she's standing over me like some fucking goon while telling me to take a BOMB home and then send it in the federal post in a week!

I break down, I take the stupid fucking bomb, they make me factory reset the phone I had been working on previously, I take the sim card, and I ask again if there is ANYONE I can call to talk to that will help. Who do THEY call when there's a situation because there HAS to be SOMEONE. They insist that nope, there's ONLY the 1877 number to the call centre.

I'm bawling, I'm broken, and crying I'm having heart issues, my head is screaming, my face feels burnt, and I roll out to the car and put the chair away. While unpacking the chair I realize I had actually put a pack of switch thumbsticks in the cart because I had been hoping to buy them with the leftover store credit I'd have when they all thought it was going to be a store credit exchange.

With my legs SCREAMING in pain, and barely able to walk, I limp back in on my crutches, unintelligibly sobbing and return the nearly-pilfered item, then go back to the truck. St this point I've set the phone on my driver's seat, I begin working on possibly loading the chair back on the truck when there's a loud, gunshot-like POP noise

and for a brief, horrifying moment, I think the battery has just exploded in my truck. Only to realize the heat had actually boiled a bottle of soda, and THAT was what had just exploded.

I'm determined, angry, frustrated, pissed, and petty... I don't want this fucking bomb in my possession, I know for a goddamn fact I am not supposed to have this bomb in my possession, I know that if it goes off and causes damages that best buy will be liable for it, and frankly, while the payout might be nice the inconvenience of having to deal with the damage, replacement, insurance, lawyers, and court costs and investigation are too much for me to handle. I don't want to go through it I JUST want a phone that works, the bank situation to be fixed and to NOT HAVE A FUCKING BOMB IN MY POSSISSION

I begin calling the useless as fuck call centre again, and for the next three and a half hours (totaling seven now) I continually try to explain, repeat, get transferred, sobbing, crying and getting hung up on by asshole techs. and I'm losing more and more composure as it goes on.

I FINALLY get a tech who says 'it should be store credit' I said I need the instructions on how to do that because the manager is claiming to not know how to do it. and I beg her to talk to the manager. Success. I go back in side, clinging to this tiny spider thread of hope that they'll fix it.

the manager takes my phone, asks if she can step tot he side, I say yes, and she comes back and they're both just repeating that the only solution is for me to send this bomb in the mail

I tell them it's ILLEGAL to send it, it's literally a federal crime. It CANNOT be policy to do this. None of them will budge. None will do the override, they're INSISTING I have to wait for a phone to come in, and then send a BOMB in the mail. I tell them this is probably why we've had mail trucks catch fire if they're telling people to do this it's ILLEGAL

The fucking manager says 'it's not actively leaking, it's not smoking or how it SHOULD be legal to send it in the mail' I ask for the salary person she mentioned. I go tot the mobile guy I'd been talking to six hours ago. I ask HIM to get me the salary person. This woman comes over and stands over me, arms crossed, with them angrily standing in front of me, arms crossed, like they're trying to intimidate me out of the store for trying to run a scam.

they continue to tell me there's no other option that they wouldn't spend six hours to tell me know they'd help if they could that I'm going to have to use the mail system.

I ask the salary manager who they call. She says corporate. I say that is horseshit. She gets offended and I clarify. That if their new policies is to call the call center number they gave me that is a horse shit policy and THEY are in danger of running into DANGEROUS situations like this without a way of getting out or around it. Who do I call to complain about that policy then?

"You can complain but it won't do anything to change the answer"

"Who do I call?!"

They give me no answer.

I leave

after seven hours of fighting with them. I leave, in possession of a fire hazard, my head pounding, feeling sick, having now gone through MULTIPLE break downs, melt downs, and panic attacks over the past seven hours of being on site trying to get them to do the right things.

I go home and explain to my parents what happened, I unload the tiny amount of groceries I'd picked up (twenty bucks of emergency cash) and realize how much bullshit it is what had happened. So I begin calling the local investigative news stations to see if they want to look into this.

One of the news stations is VERY interested in the fact this store told me to buy a bucket of sand to put a dangerous fire/explosive into. They're interested that the store can't be called with inbound calls, that there's apparently no area or district manager to call, that the store sent me home with an explosive and told me to send it in the mail.

I send the store to the news station. I call other stations, they're not as interested. That's fine. I'm advised to call the attorney general of commerce and leave them the story. I do.

June 21 2024 - I still need to correct the banking situation so I determine to drive to the bank, make a physical deposit with some change I have on hand to bring the account high enough to accept the cash app deposit I tried to withdraw two days before. And while I am in the area of the credit union, I'll go to a different best buy, explain what happened, and see if they give me the same answer.

The bank was thankfully open two hours later than I though, giving me plenty of time. They accepted the deposit, and I was on my way, I get to the other Best Buy.

The battery has expanded again by this point. But still no leaks, smoke, or active heat but I don't trust it, and moving it is a bad idea. I take it inside, I explain what happened and this store is absolutely horrified of my story.

I show them receipts of what happened. I explain their responses, their 'solutions' and their suggestions. This store's crew is just locked in abject horror that this happened. I explain why the other store wouldn't do the store credit and they say 'let me call my manager' and I tell them about how the other store told me there was NO area or district manager.

They look confused "Well he's kind of a roaming district manager, but... yeah... we have... I have a lot to tell Abby."

I breathe a sigh of relief. I was right, there's an area manager, and a roaming district manager... I wasn't crazy I did remember correctly how their policies worked... I tell them about the 'we call corporate' situation and how I was on the phone for 7 hours thereabouts, being hung up on.. they all continue to look horrified... at this point they hit the same dead sku issue, and I lament a possible repeat. They said they were NOT going to let me have that bomb back, we were NOT going to be sending it through the mail (one even said 'Isn't that considered like.. terrorism?!" and I agreed I was pretty sure it was. ) they said I was leaving with a phone they just had to get 'Abby' to tell them how to bypass this... and she did. In like.. five minutes.

"Is store credit okay? It'll probably have to be store credit" "YES! That's perfect, it means I can just get the phone and a new plan..." They help me find a phone they have (Moto G 5g 2024 model) and even with a new plan, I had 33% of store credit left over!

They tell me that phone is NOT leaving the sand bucket, and there's a brief funny moment of one associate holding up the sim tray (they'd used it to confirm the IMEI and confirm it was the phone under warranty) and the tech laughing and holding this tiny piece of plastic "This is probably the least problematic part of the phone"

I agree... the situation was handled, and I tell them I DID report them to the AG, and the news stations, and one of the associates goes "I'm REALLY surprised that store did that... that's the main hub store of the district, and he's on vacation right now but Roy, the district manager... that's his HOME store... I don't know what they were thinking" and I go "Roy.... Roy.... Mister Roy? Kinda tall, brown/black hair? Used to be the General manager of that store? THAT Mister Roy is the district manager?" "Yeah! He was the general manager there for a while." "Yeah about three0four years ago, I've met him! He's the one who told me about the way the protection plans work"

They all agreed he was not going to be happy, and any new friends that store makes from my reports were justified, they were glad I raised hell about the battery because it would have been a disaster if it'd gone off, and "didn't they know how dangerous these batteries are" and "why the hell did they send you home with that?" and me agreeing it was insane and wrong and just... feeling better to know I wasn't crazy in the way I knew the world was SUPPOSED to work.

So in the end - the banking situation was handled, I was able to get a new working phone for my dad, that did indeed transfer all information, contacts, images and everything over (for as evil as it's become, google synching system and account connections are INCREDIBLE for this exact situation) and I had enough money left over to get the switch thumbsticks I'd wanted to get from the other store... I still have some money left over. and they were cheaper than my local store.

the news station hasn't gotten back to me yet, but they may not until Monday at the earliest, but the situation is done at least, (largely) and the end was a good one.

and that concludes the epic saga of "Asrya and the exploding battery - and the store manager that wanted her to commit an act of domestic terrorism"

[living400lbs]

"Budgeting, in the everyday sense of measuring the cost of each purchase or decision, is something I have to think about. Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon said he “would have to think about it” too—but only when I pressed him in a congressional hearing on how a teller at his bank could make ends meet.

Using a whiteboard to break down the wages and costs of living, I switched to a red marker as the hypothetical single mother I was describing ran short paying for food and childcare. “My question for you, Mr. Dimon, is how should she manage this budget shortfall while she is working full-time at your bank?”

“I don’t know that all your numbers are accurate. That number is a…It is generally a starter job?” He chipped away at the question to avoid an answer.

“She is a starting employee. She has a six-year-old child. This is her first job.”

...

“She’s short $567. What would you suggest she do?” I pressed.

“I don’t know; I’d have to think about it,” he answered. I asked whether the teller should borrow on her Chase credit card, or if she should overdraft her checking account, noting that the monthly budget did not even allow for clothing, medicine, or school lunches. Each time, he repeated that he would have to think about it.

As the exchange was replayed online millions of times, my colleagues asked me how I’d thought of this line of questioning. More than Mr. Dimon’s refusal to acknowledge the mismatch between worker pay and household expenses, the wonder of my fellow representatives disheartened me. For all the bloviating about Democrats being “for the people” and Republicans advancing “a pro-worker agenda,” I confounded politicians on both sides of the aisle by raising that exact topic."

[swamp-world]

overdraft on credit card can't pay it off bc i can't find my debit card banished from the grocery store and out of milk for tea need to move a bed 10km in a pickup truck but it's raining and i have no tarps owed about 600 by one former roommate and 300 by another former roommate and i don't even know about current roommate balances have no one lined up to move in yet weird stalker is wandering the neighbourhood haven't taken my antidepressants in a week and forgot to bring them up on the phone call with my doctor and wont be able to talk to her for another three weeks probably have one more year of classes but have maxxed out student loans and haven't heard back about getting paid to get whooping cough havent spoken to my family in a month rent due tomorrow still haven't sent most of the crucial emails i need to and after five years of school i have passed enough classes to be considered a third year i am going to walk into the ocean wearing nothing but wool